State News Highlights - July

Alabama

Facebook: Alabama BATs

State Administrators - Terri Rector Michal

Twitter: @AlabamaBATs

There’s a better plan for reopening schools - if Alabama leaders will use it

California

Facebook: California BATs

Facebook Administrators: Tina Andres, Karen Wolfe, Jeanne Berrong, Owen Jackman, Sherry Skipper-Spurgeon, Jed Idan, Lisa Palmer, Heather Poland, Paula Meyer, Lance Wren, Virginia Tibbets, Jose del Barrio.

Twitter: @CaliBATs

Santa Ana Unified School District Board approves Ethnic Studies graduation requirement at last Tuesday's board meeting

Florida

Facebook: Florida BATs

Facebook Administrators - Donna Yates Mace, Lisa Yurkin, Marcus Hochman

Twitter: @FLBATsA

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a plan for Florida’s K-12 schools to reopen at full capacity in the fall saying that “Florida can only hit its economic stride if schools are open.” while also killing online learning program amid virus resurgence

Illinois

Facebook: Illinois BATs

Facebook Administrator - Diane Barrett King Rener and Millisa Libey Jaycox

Twitter: @IllinoisBATs

Public University Uniform Admission Act: Requires each public university in this State to admit first-time freshman applicants as undergraduate students if the applicant graduated with a grade point average in the top 10% or was certified to be in the top 10% of the student's high school graduating class in one of the 2 school years preceding the academic year —and other criteria... but no sat or act testing.

F irst education-related COVID-19 poll reveals parents are more concerned about their child’s education than financial issues, access to food and social distancing.

Kentucky

Facebook: Kentucky BATS

State Administrators - Tiffany Benningfield Dunn and Julia Berner

Twitter: @KentuckyBATs

Kentucky Department of Education releases reopening guidance for school facilities, CTE centers.

Massachusetts

Facebook: Massachusetts BATs

Facebook Administrator - Amy Wolpin, Sue Doherty

Twitter: @MassBATs

Education Leaders Release Roadmap for Reopening Schools.

Missouri

Facebook: Missouri BATs

Facebook Administrator - Anne Pritchett, Bob Minor

Twitter: @MissouriBATs

Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education leaving decisions about the fall up to school districts.

New Hampshire

Facebook: New Hampshire BATs

Facebook Administrator: Jena DiPinto

Twitter: @NHampshireBATs

Teachers concerned as task force considers how to reopen schools.

North Carolina

Facebook: North Carolina BATs

Facebook Administrators: Angie McLeod Barbour, Melanie Miday-Stern, Jenn Martin

State Board of Education approves new guidance for schools.

Oregon

Facebook: Oregon BATs

Facebook Administrator: Kathleen Hagans Jeskey, Pete Teller, Anna Riddels, Jennifer Dorsey, and Tricia Snyder.

Twitter: @OregonBATs

ODE Releases LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Success Plan.

South Dakota

Facebook: South Dakota BATs

Facebook Administrator - Suzy Suzanne

Twitter: Coming Soon

District, state fail to meet special ed federal requirements.

Vermont

Facebook: Vermont BATs

Twitter: @VermontBATs

Vermont K-12 schools prepare for fall reopening.

West Virginia

Facebook : West Virginia BATs

Facebook Administrator - Greg Cruey

Twitter : @WVBATs

WV Department of Education launches surveys for fall re-entry.

Alaska

Facebook: Alaska BATs

State Administrators - Andy Holleman and Julie Santaella

Twitter: @AlaskaBATs

Anchorage School District superintendent criticized over email addressing nationwide scrutiny of police in schools

Colorado

Facebook: Colorado BATs

State Administrators - William Ames Prather

Twitter: @ColoradoBATsA

INC (Denver’s Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation) suggests DPS put a freeze on $35 million in third party consulting contracts and make further cuts to top heavy central administration to help manage the budget issues.

Georgia

Facebook: Georgia BATs

Facebook Administrators - Lynda Wolfe Smith, Lisa Morgan, Peter Toggerson

Twitter: @GeorgiaBATs2

State releases guidelines for reopening schools.

Indiana

Facebook: Indiana BATs

Facebook Administrator: Cathy Sutton

Twitter: @IndianaBATs

All teachers recognized as Indiana's 'Teacher of the Year'

Louisiana

Facebook: Louisiana BATs

Twitter: @LouisianaBATs

Louisiana’s COMPASS Teacher Eval System Goes Down Following Statewide Cyberattack

What Senator Milligan said to Cade Brumley about teacher voice, and more.

Michigan

Facebook: Michigan BATs

State Administrators - Linda K. Eastman, Rebecca Lehnert Armstrong, Mary Genger Kieft Bouwense, Carina Hilbert, Jonathan Marceau

Twitter: @MIBATs

The state of Michigan has reached a settlement with a group of Detroit Public School students who argued they were denied basic literary skills and won a landmark federal appeals court ruling last month that found a "basic minimum education to be a fundamental right.

Montana

Facebook: Montana BATs

Facebook Administrator - Cheryl Samson Denton

Twitter @MontanaBATs

Podcast episode: MFPE President Eric Feaver and Montanans Organized for Education Executive Director Moffie Funk discuss ongoing schemes to fund private schools with public dollars in Montana.

New Jersey

Facebook: New Jersey BATs

Facebook Administrators - Melissa Tomlinson, Judy Strollo

Twitter: @NJBATsA

NJ School Boards’ report starts conversation on reopening schools.

North Dakota

Facebook: North Dakota BATs

Facebook Administrators: Marguerite Madeleine

Bismarck Public Schools unveils summer reentry plan; teacher group has concerns.

Pennsylvania

Facebook: Pennsylvania BATs

State Administrators - Dana Marie

Twitter: @PennBAT

‘No Question’: PA Governor Says Schools Will Reopen In The Fall

Tennessee

Facebook: Tennessee BATs

State Administrators - Lee Ann Pepper Nolan, Tikeila Rucker, Larry Proffitt, Jennifer Navarre, Mary Holden, Jenee Hewlett Peters, Neshellda Johnson, Lu Howard, and April Waltrip Jeffries

Twitter: @MemphisBATBa

Tennessee considers new commission to help education rebound from the coronavirus.

Virginia

Facebook: Virginia BATs

Facebook Administrators: Cheryl Gibbs Binkley, Sue Goncarovs, Erin Rafferty, Justin Kern

Twitter @VirginiaBATs

Giving feedback on reopening Virginia schools, education work group starts listening sessions.

Wisconsin

Facebook: Wisconsin BATs

Facebook Administrator: Debbie Kadon

Twitter - Coming Soon!

Wisconsin K-12 schools may get $175 million in funding for virtual learning, mental health services.

Arizona

Facebook: Arizona BATs

State Administrators - Kathie Wing Larsyn and Lise Spangenthal

Twitter: @AZBatsA

The start of an in person school year has been pushed back to August 17th.

Connecticut

Facebook: Connecticut BATs

State Administrators - Jesse Turner and Rose Reyes

Twitter - Coming Soon

U.S. Education Department rules Connecticut transgender policy is violation of Title IX.

Hawaii

Facebook: Hawaii BATs

State Administrators - Mireille Christianne Ellsworth

Twitter: @HawaiiBATs

Teachers look to BOE for support on protecting salaries as economic picture worsens.

Iowa

Facebook: Iowa BATs

Facebook Administrator - Jane Balvanz

Twitter: @Iowabats

Iowa receives $26.2 million in emergency education relief to expand broadband access

Maine

Facebook: Maine BATs

Facebook Administrator - Robin Ellen Brooks

Twitter: @MaineBATs

Portland schools prepare for year’s end with plan to address learning gaps.

Minnesota

Facebook: Minnesota BATs

Twitter: @MNBATs1

UMN cuts ties with Minneapolis police in light of George Floyd case

Nebraska

Facebook: Nebraska BATs

Facebook Administrator - Brittany Alexander

Twitter: @NebraskaBATs

A glimmer of hope for fall: Nebraska to allow groups of 20 for summer school, camps.

New Mexico

Facebook: New Mexico BATs

State Administrators - Sara Attleson and Angela Reynolds

Twitter @NewMexicoBATs

NM sees larger number of kids with coronavirus.

Ohio

Facebook: Ohio BATs

Facebook Administrators - Brittany Alexander, Kelly Braun, Karen Linch, Mandy Jablonski, Paula Garfield, Beth Egbert, Debra Fedyna, Amber Clark, Jessica Bosak, Katie Hauer

Twitter: @OhioBATs

No clear answers on reopening Ohio’s schools.

Rhode Island

Facebook: Rhode Island BATs

State Administrators -
Twitter @RhodeIslandBats

R.I. colleges face ‘the new abnormal’ while public schools await guidance

Texas

Facebook: Texas BATs

State Administrators - Pamela Ehrlich Smith, Gerald Savoy,

Twitter: @TxBats

Texas tells ISDs to follow DeVos guidance boosting relief funding for private schools.

Washington

Facebook: WashingtonBATs

Facebook Administrators: Becca Ritchie, Susan DuFresne, Michelle Murphy Ramey, Linda Myrick, Amy Hepburn, Karen Adlum, Sheri Fingeroot Kittay

Twitter @WABATs_

As Washington considers reopening schools, emerging research hints that closures helped contain the coronavirus.

Wyoming

Facebook: Wyoming BATs

Facebook Administrator:

Twitter - Coming Soon!

University Of Wyoming plans to reopen campus this Fall.

Arkansas

Facebook: Arkansas BATs

State Administrators - Tina Andres

Twitter: @ArkansasBATsA

Arkansas schools granted waivers for pandemic flexibility

Delaware

Facebook: Delaware BATs

Twitter: @DelawareBATs

Educators consider plans to reopen Delaware schools by setting up working groups.

Idaho

Facebook: Idaho BATs

Facebook Administrator - Mary Ollie and Levi Cavaner

Twitter: @IdahoBATs

The Blaine County School district is canceling a nearly 20-year running dual immersion program at one of its elementary schools, citing challenges finding qualified bilingual teachers.

Kansas

Facebook: Kansas BATs

Facebook Administrator - Anne Pritchett

Twitter: @KansasBATs

Kansas educator named National Teacher of the Year

Maryland

Facebook: Maryland BATs

Twitter - coming soon

Maryland State Senator proposes year-round school to make up lost time.

Mississippi

Facebook: Mississippi BATs

Facebook Administrator - Amanda Koonlaba

Twitter: @MississippiBATs

School districts got creative at the end of the year with graduation, etc milestone ceremonies.

Nevada

Facebook: Nevada BATs

Facebook Administrator - Lisa Muntean, Phil Sorenson, Stacey Wolff, Chet Miller, Cindy Darden, Sarah Sunnasy, Carmen Andrews, Mary Beth DeNigris-Franzeo, Jennifer Petrie

Twitter @NVBATs

Social distancing will be issue when classes resume, Governor Sisolak says.

New York

Facebook: New York BATs

Facebook Administrators - Beth Glazer-Schettino, Terry Kalb, Eric Olsen, Jamy Brice Hyde, Jake Jacobs, Eve Shippens, Rosemary Pearce, Tara Molloy-Grocki, and Dave Greene

Twitter: @NYBATs

@NYStateBATs

The Duanesburg Central School District senior class of 2020, who are unable to have a prom or take a senior class trip, selflessly donated $4,000 of their class fund to the Food Bank to help people in need.